Southwest Furloughs..

[commuterguy]

Two nights ago at a bar in Las Vegas, another patron heard us talking about our flying day and introduced himself as a Southwest pilot. Some of the things he was saying didn't quite make sense....one of which is that furloughs for 130 were on the way. Please say it isn't so. Hopefully this guy was a private pilot with too many drinks.

 

[vixin]

Nope havent heard that at all!! Maybe it was the General or Tanker.

 

[IslandDriver]

I am 132 from the bottom! We have heard nothing...we are a little fat right now but even with the reduction we had in flying we are all flyig alot. Who knows though...any thing can happen.

 

[vixin]

The trip totals are getting back to normal also.

 

[contrail67]

Never listen to anything at a Bar.

 

[commuterguy]

Good advice....the guy seemed a bit "off" but I don't keep up on all the industry happenings and thought perhaps I may have missed something. Very glad it's not true.

 

[clickclickboom]

Take a look around you and watch Fox or Commie News Network for an hour. If you are reading this and have a job consider yourself lucky

 

[General Lee]

Nope havent heard that at all!! Maybe it was the General or Tanker.

Hey now, I don't dislike any of your guys or wish a furlough on anyone. I just say I wouldn't want to fly what you guys fly. I think your pay is great, along with your stews and management for now. I just don't like your short turns, multiple leg days, and one aircraft type. Other than all of that, you guys are seriously FANTASTIC.



Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Flyer1015]

just say I wouldn't want to fly what you guys fly. I think your pay is great, along with your stews and management for now. I just don't like your short turns, multiple leg days, and one aircraft type. Other than all of that, you guys are seriously FANTASTIC.

They fly the same B737 as you do at Delta, and they make more than any of your 737 pilots. And their "short turns, multiple legs, and 1 type" brand model have net them tons of profits and not a single pilot layoff in their entire history.

 

[RedDogC130]

FLyer....shut up..you missed his point.

 

[maxblast72]

I would have to imagine at an airline like Southwest where the average guy flies over 800 hrs a year, they could handle up to a 10% reduction in ASM year over year by just reducing the amount of block everyone averages every year. Makes the operation a little less cost efficient, but is the right thing to do to keep employee moral up as much as possible.

Nothing lower moral quicker than a furlough situation (I watched one unfold at Airtran last fall).

 

[RedDogC130]

For example, per an email we got from our union pres.

In January 2008 our pilot group averaged 107.89 trips for pay. In January 2009 the average was 99.88. That equates to a decline of 7.5% from our pay year over year

so depending on your pay rate it can range from
$367 for a 1st year guy up to $1384 for a 12 year captain...oviously the senior guys in each seat will be able to bid and get more open time so this would not really affect them but on average it is a bunch of $$$ lets hope that does not happen for the rest of the year because that can add up fast.

 

[Flyer1015]

FLyer....shut up..you missed his point.

And his point was...?

 

[maxblast72]

For example, per an email we got from our union pres.

In January 2008 our pilot group averaged 107.89 trips for pay. In January 2009 the average was 99.88. That equates to a decline of 7.5% from our pay year over year

so depending on your pay rate it can range from
$367 for a 1st year guy up to $1384 for a 12 year captain...oviously the senior guys in each seat will be able to bid and get more open time so this would not really affect them but on average it is a bunch of $$$ lets hope that does not happen for the rest of the year because that can add up fast.

Red Dog, just curious, what does 100 trips for pay correspond to in block hrs on average if you had to guess. Do you know what Southwest average block per pilot was for 2008?

 

[vixin]

Average block per year is around 850 maybe a little less. Average TFP per year is around 1260.

 

[McNugget]

SWA isn't going to furlough. They will grow a little, when Spirit goes under.

 

[Colonel Savage]

SWA isn't going to furlough. They will grow a little, when Spirit goes under.

Tool.

 

[SEVEN]

SWA isn't going to furlough. They will grow a little, when Spirit goes under.

Nice avatar. But I think your being a little too nice to Hussein Obama. You need a Cuban or Iranian Flag behind him. Never forget the road our voters have led us down: Socialism leads to Communism. The people want it and they will get it. Change is coming for sure.

About your post: Airtran will be the first to go. Not too sure about Spirit yet. A possible merger with another LCC is definately a possibility.

 

[kwick]

The Republic Scabs going down first!

 

[Yuppyguppy]

The Republic Scabs going down first!

I'll second that!